Reviews

A couple of colleagues and I had lunch here at the beginning of January to catch-up after the holidays. We work close to the Convention location, and my previous firm held our annual Christmas party at the Hornby location with great success over the years, so, I enthusiastically suggested the Bellaggio knowing the food would not disappoint. Sadly, the service we received eclipsed the fact that the food was absolutely delicious. Since my two separate attempts to contact management of The Bellaggio have gone unacknowledged and unanswered (emails sent to both the Hornby and Convention locations), I now take to social media for recompense! Like my daddy always said, “If you can’t get in the front door, just go ‘round the back.”

We arrived for lunch shortly after noon, and were seated in the lower section, away from the other diners. Realizing the menus we had been given were dinner menus, we waited for our server to come back to take our drink order so we could exchange for the lunch menu. After 10 minutes and no one in sight, we approached another server who brought us a lunch menu. Another 10 minutes passed before our server came by to take our drink order – we took the opportunity to order our food too; at this rate, we’ll be lucky if we get our drinks, let alone our meals before we have to get back to the salt mine. When our beers arrived, they were warm and flat... More waiting, and then our server, unapologetic and mildly defensive, begrudgingly returned our beers. Being fairly certain that a second pour would still be warm and flat, we erred on the side of caution and stuck with a seemingly safe choice – water.

This is not starting out well. We’ve now been in the restaurant for 40 minutes, been made to feel unreasonable in expecting a cold, crisp beer and we still don’t have our meals. We considered leaving and canceling our orders, but knew if we did, we would be out of time to grab lunch elsewhere before we had to be back at work, so our hunger won that argument!

Our food finally arrived, we ordered the Pollo and Brie sandwich, Pollo Club sandwich, and Pizza Alla Carbonara, and it all tasted AMAZING! So, kudos to the kitchen for redeeming this frustrating experience... up until this point, anyhow.

When we were just about half way through our meals our server came to refill our waters. He reached from behind me to the opposite side of the table and picked up a glass, which slipped out of his hand and smashed. There were shards of glass everywhere! My colleague was soaked in water and it spilled all into her purse. When she reached in her purse to inspect the damage she was cut by a piece of glass.
While our server was apologetic about the accident, I can’t help but think that this could have been avoided had he been trained to walk around the table, rather than give it the ol’ reach-around. We all tried to gather the larger pieces of glass from our table and plates while our server went to, I can only assume, attend to more pressing matters, because he was not to be seen again. Instead, another server was sent to check in on us, who appeared confused by our unwillingness to finish our meals. As if the danger of having shards of glass on our plates was not reason enough to stop eating... She then made a lighthearted, dismissive comment suggesting that the full moon was to blame for our experience here today. And hey, I’m all for making light of unfortunate circumstances, but abdicating responsibility in front of customers that are soaked, hungry out of time and now BLEEDING, seems like poor judgment.

The woman who was cut by the glass and had her purse and clothing soaked, received a free lunch. One of the half eaten sandwiches received a 25% discount, while the other meal did not receive an adjustment, even though none of us were able to finish our half eaten meals for fear of swallowing glass. Having worked in the service industry, I am very aware that accidents happen. However, the response we received to this situation was unsatisfactory. The manager did not make an appearance. We were not provided any incentive to come back again and I feel the compensation offered, considering the action that resulted in our meals being inedible was no fault of our own, was inconsistent with the level of inconvenience caused.

So, with all of that in mind, if you’re looking for a well executed meal, but you’re not too concerned about the level of service you’re going to receive (maybe the thrill factor of eating glass appeals to you... OR the humiliation of having to return to work, soaked in water, gives you giddy goose bumps) I highly recommend The Bellaggio.

At the entrance, it looked promising with an interesting menu posted and two pretty hostesses greeting us, but it went downhill fast! We had two beers and Fish & Chips - pretty simple! One of the fish was still frozen inside - we sent it back (via the hostess as the waitress was always looking away). They returned the same piece of fish, but now overcooked! The French Fries were also overdone - as though they had actually been cooked once and then cooked again to reheat them. When I went inside and asked our waitress for the bill, she asked "what table are you at and who is your server"?
The restaurant is in the perfect location to entice thousands of tourists from the cruise ship terminal, so it is sad that this poor service and lousy food will be one of their memories of Vancouver. The restaurant management will be happy though, as they will make a lot of money by serving one-time guests lousy food by disgruntled waitresses.

This restaurant calls itself "authentic Italian" but there is nothing Italian about it.

The owner was at the restaurant and he came over to our table to tells us that he was suing James Cameron because he stole his idea for Avatar. That is the only time he came to our table and he was not even friendly.

We ordered four main courses for lunch and one appetizer. We waited approximately 45 minutes for our food and when we got it, it was already cold. We had to go back to work so we didn't want to send our plates back to the kitchen to be put in the microwave.

I ordered lasagna = the worst lasagna ever. I make real lasagna being Italian. Another colleague ordered a pizza and it was even worse, if you can believe it, another one order a chicken sandwich with fries and he got a chicken quesadilla with about 10 fries and the chicken was pretty dried. And finally another one order a Cesar Salad and it was a tiny salad.

If I could have given 0 on the rating I would have but I guess if I say poor at everything that pretty well says it all. Thankfully the view was spectacular on this particular day because it was really sunny.

At the end the server came to asked us how everything was, I said, I'm sorry to say it but this is the worst lasagna I have ever had and none of us were pleased with the food. She was shocked - she clearly has never tasted the food there and if she has, she clearly needs the job. So after we gave her our opinion, she went to talk to the owner of the restaurant and we imagined she gave him our rating. He looked at us and shrug it off and just wave his hand like saying "I don't care!" (that pretty much is clear that he doesn't care about the food he serves). In my past experiences when I gave that kind of rating to the server and she/he relays that message to they manager; the manager comes over offers his apologies and perhaps invites me to come again and give me a discount. NOT THE CASE in this experience.

The prices were extremely high for what we had, Cesar Salad with no chicken is $11, lasagna $16 with no salad, small salad for $7. I almost didn't leave a tip but I knew it was not the server's fault so I left 10% and that's still pretty generous. Ah and we never got the appetizer!

The main reason for giving a poor review is for bad and tasteless food, our experience as a group was not the greatest and the prices are just too high for the food quality and service, specially by the owner.

The Bellaggio at the Vancouver Convention Centre is an inviting space with wonderful views of the harbour. The restaurant is family friendly and the staff are welcoming. The space has a lounge and a dining area both with fair-sized tables and comfortable seating.

The Bellaggio boasts a decent wine list with selections from British Columbia, California, Italy, and France. The price range for their wine list is $27 to $145 per bottle. They also serve wine by the glass.

Had I patroned the Bellaggio for a glass of wine and a window seat, I may have had a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, I actually ordered from their menu. The food that was served to me was neither authentic nor Italian; it was a poor approximation and although the server - the only one in the restaurant for Sunday lunch service - was wonderful, I have to give this experience an overall rating of horrible, simply because the food was so exceptionally bad.

THE BRUSCHETTA SAMPLER ($12.00)
The bruschetta sampler was advertised as a combination of bruschetta di pomodori and bruschetta di funghi. I don't know what came to the table, but it was not bruschetta.

The server brought six pieces of white, uncooked flatbread with some toppings. The commercial flatbread was not baked, grilled, or warmed in any way and had a chewy, sticky consistency. The "pomodori" were crudely diced field tomatoes with no salt, no garlic, no basil, no olive oil, tossed onto the chewy flatbread and accented with two dime-sized squirts of reduced balsamic.Having used under ripened field tomatoes, the taste was acidic and flavourless. But the "funghi" were even worse. The bruschetta di funghi was canned button mushrooms spread over the uncooked commercial flatbread! Canned button mushrooms on top of uncooked flatbread -- it was so bad, I have describe this twice.

PIZZA SOPRESSATA ($14.99)
A twelve inch thin crust pizza with salami, cheese, and artichoke. The menu name may have been the "Soprano" but in any case, the kitchen butchered this pizza in cold blood. It was a crime to serve this pizza. Our server mentioned that the pizza was a thin crust pizza prepared in the "traditional" way. I assume she was referring to the traditional way pizza is cooked in a dorm room. When this dish came to the table I thought the server had made a mistake on the order.

A thin crust pizza must be cooked on a deck that is at least 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This pizza looked like it was baked in a plate warmer. The cheese was so slowly over-cooked that it was hard. What little pomodori sauce there was, was tasteless. The "sopressata" was standard deli meat and there was one canned artichoke heart cut into four pieces an strewn on top of the pizza. There were still inedible pieces of fibrous artichoke leaf that I had to spit out. Each piece of pizza was so limp that it flopped over when I picked it up; the cooking technique on the pizza was so poorly executed that the pizza slice couldn't stand on its own, not even with the help of orthotics and a cane.

The location of this restaurant is absolutely outstanding! I was attracted by the location and without hesitated and walked in. The server was so unprofessional, she dropped the menu right in front where I sat. She did pretended that she is friendly but I can tell that she is making fun (possible about me or other customers) with other servers. She was very pushy with the order. Food was below average. Did not bother even refill water!!!! I think this restaurant is mainly serving tourists otherwise can not find way to maintains the operating cost. This is the shame for us, Vancouver people and restaurants owners that giving the bad impression about the great service that we often offer! I would not go back again for SURE! THAT WAS MY FIRST AND LAST VISIT!!!!! TERRIBLE!!!!

My wife and I were strolling near the convention center, looking to kill a little time. As we had a look at the menu of the Bellagio, an older gentleman I can assume was a manager, popped his head out, to mention they had all pizzas on for $12, cooked by a real Italian chef no less. So we headed inside.

The interior of the place is quite nice. Wedged along the edge of the convention center to take full advantage of the view, which is stunning. They offered to let us sit wherever we liked, as the place was fairly empty, to be expected mid afternoon on a weekday. We headed down to a virtually deserted portion of the restaurant where we could be alone, and their open kitchen concept revealed one Asian cook. No sign of the real Italian chef.

The server did a good job, and we were low maintenance, just talking and watching people walk by. However the food took quite awhile, and all we ordered was one meat pizza to share between us. The manager finally came down to check and was clearly angry with the cook, then came over to us and said the cook was doing everything fresh so it would take a little longer...

When we finally got the pizza, it was far from authentic Italian. Quite disappointing in fact. And half way through, the music switched from a plain background elevator type of music, to....well my best description is an East Indian Banghra type of music which was entirely too loud, and I found offensive. We requested the bill, dropped some cash, and exited right away.

All in all, a bad experience, and I would recommend avoiding this restaurant. I probably wouldn't have even posted a review, but upon checking the restaurant out a bit further, The website has both a facebook page, and a twitter link. But has no postings on either one. It leads me to believe that this is a restaurant in a choice location, with a glossy look, but no depth, substance, or idea of how to get their "real Italian" Asian chef, to cook real Italian food. Very unfortunate, as they are just playing to the cruise ship and convention center traffic, and will never develop a real following, despite their beautiful location.

I was looking for somewhere to bring my soon to be wife for a romantic midweek dinner and a colleague recommended the Bellaggio Cafe in Canda Place. I had heard really good things about the restaurant and I am glad to say they are all true.

Firstly, the decor reminded my partner and I of a trip we took to Venice when we started seeing each other and gave the place an authentic Italian feel. The music was a blend of sounds inspired by Italian and Spanish traditions and ebbed gently through the restaurant never once becoming too loud or disruptive.

Secondly, the menu. Where to start with the menu? The authentic Italian feel is continued with Carpaccio and Pepata di Cozze appetizer's, a Saltinbooca di Pollo entrée and a wide selection of interesting pasta's and pizza'a. My partner choose the Pepata di Cozza and I the Bruschetta Pompodora. The server who kindly greeted us at the door upon our arrival was warm, friendly and informative and took our order after bringing us a bottle of beautiful Vermentino.

For out main course we ordered lasagne and pizza. I ordered the Montecarlo Pizza which was cooked to perfection, the rich ingredients coming together to provide a tasty and filling meal. My partner ordered the Mama's Meat lasagne which was in her words "unbelievable". The authentic Italian taste to the food is provided byhead chef Fabrizio who is from Venice and who came to the table to see if we were satisfied with our meal which we were.

The pizza that I ordered was on special and I enquired if it was a short time deal and was informed that all pizza's are $12 all of the time. And as someone who likes pizza I can safely say that $12 for an authentic Italian 12" thin crust pizza is the best value in town.

The service was exceptional and the atmosphere was very romantic with the lights of North Vancouver clearly visible across the water which the restaurant looks onto.

I can't fault anything about the Bellaggio, for ambience, service, price and authenticity this little piece of Venice cannot be beaten.

After a walk on the seawall, my friend and myself stopped at the Bellaggio to take advantage of the 12$ pizza deal. The restaurant was quite busy for a Saturday afternoon. We opted to sit in the bar area where there were higher chairs to take full advantage of the views. The service was very good, our server was a friendly girl who helped us deicing on what to get.
We shared the salmon lox appetizer then shared the all meat pizza and a chicken and pesto pizza. The Pizza was incredible a thin crust which is my new favorite style of and for 12$ they are outstandingly great value.
As it was Saturday we indulged in martini's which were on special offer.
All in all, the experience was enjoyable and the service extremely friendly and welcoming. But most of all to get such a tasty and delicious Pizza in Vancouver for 12$ is what makes the Bellaggio my new favorite pizza place.